Sliding door or window

ABSTRACT

A SLIDING GLASS PANEL COMPRISES A MOVABLE PORTION THAT SLIDES HORIZONTASLLY IN RELATIONSHIP WITH A FRAME AND A FIXED PANEL. THE MOVABLE PORTION COMPRISES A SASHLESS GLASS PANE WHICH IS DISPLACEABLE ALONGSIDE THE FRAME AND EXTERNALLY OF THE FRAME. SEALING STRIPS ARE PROVIDED AROUND THE DOOR OPENING IN THE FRAME. A HANDLE MOUNTED AT THE MID POINT OF THE SLIDING GLASS PANEL FORCES THROUGH A CAMMING ACTION THE GLASS PANE TO TAKE A BOWED CONFIGURATION THAT MATCHES THE CONGIGURATION OF THE SEALING STRIPS FOR CLOSING THE GLASS PANEL AND THE OPEN PORTION OF THE FRAME. THE GLASS PANEL CAN EITHER BE A DOOR OR A WINDOW.

Nov. 30, 1971 Filed Sept. 22, 1969 SLIDING DOOR OR WINDOW P. ALGRAIN a5 29 j zw e; 41 0 Lin Shoots-Shoot 1 NOV. 30, 1971 P. ALGRA|N 3,623,269

SLIDING DOOR OR WINDOW Filed Sept. 22, 1969 3 Sheets-$11001, 2

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Nov. 30, 1971 Filed Sept. 22, 1969 P. ALGRAIN SLIDING noon 0R wmoow United States Patent 3,623,269 SLIDING DOOR OR WINDOW Paul Algrain, 8 Avenue des Frenes, Kraainem, Belgium Filed Sept. 22, 1969, Ser. No. 859,746

Claims priority, application Belgium, Sept. 27, 1968, 64,103, Patent 721,597 Int. Cl. E05d 13/02 US. Cl. 49-410 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A sliding glass panel comprises a movable portion that slides horizontally in relationship with a frame and a fixed panel. The movable portion comprises a sashless glass pane which is displaceable alongside the frame and externally of the frame. Sealing strips are provided around the door opening in the frame. A handle mounted at the mid point of the sliding glass panel forces through a camming action the glass pane to take a bowed configuration that matches the configuration of the sealing strips for closing the glass panel and the open portion of the frame. The glass panel can either be a door or a window.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The present invention relates to a sliding door or window comprising a movable part sliding horizonttally and externally with respect to a generally glazed fixed part.

Description of the prior art In conventional sliding doors or windows, the movable part is made of a simple or double sheet of glass or a glazed panel, supported in a frame sliding in a direction parallel to the fixed part or casing and usually at the inside of the latter.

The known sliding doors or windows present the disadvantage that water and air tightness is diflicult to realize when in a closed position, and this is more acute at high levels in large buildings. Generally the sealing means that are utilized are expensive or ineffective.

In the previous arrangements, the glass sheet constituting the movable part remainded constantly in its own plane no matter what its motions may be.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a novel sliding door or window, the movable part being of a simpler form than in the known cases, but insuring a better sealing action against both water and air than that obtained in the prior art.

To this effect, in a sliding door or window according to the present invention, the movable part is simply made of a glass sheet that is movable outside with respect to the casing. The displacement of the glass sheet occurs between a position where it stands in front of the fixed part and a closing position in which it stands in front of the door opening the frame is provided with external sealing strips.

When placed in its closing position, the external glass sheet and the external sealing strips may be brought close together till they are in an unbroken contact in the closed position, or may be spaced apart from this closed position.

It is advantageous to place the glass sheet on the outside of the fixed part in order to ensure a better sealing against water and air, for the pressure of wind will press the glass sheet against the external sealing strips.

In an advantageous manner, with regards to tightness as well as thermal and sound insulation, the movable part of the sliding door or window will comprise both an outer and an inner glass sheet. This inner glass sheet can be moved together with the external glass sheet. As for the internal glass sheet, the sliding motion also occurs between an open position in which it is placed opposite to said fixed part and a closing position in which it stands in front of the door opening and its frame is likewise provided with internal sealing strips all around.

The internal glass sheet in its closing position and the internal sealing strips may be brought close together till they are in unbroken contact in a closed position, or spaced apart starting from the closed position.

According to the peculiarities of the present invention the movement of the external glass sheet, or of both external and internal glass sheets and of the corresponding sealing strips in order to pass from the closing to the closed position and vice versa is effected through a mechanical action that is exerted upon this or these glass sheets or sealing strips.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the mechanical action upon the external glass sheet, or upon the external and internal glass sheets, is exerted substantially half way-up of their height in order to apply this or these glass sheets first against the corresponding sealing strips that are supported by the upper and lower horizontal members of the frame of the passageway, said glass sheet being thereafter elastically curved to be applied against the lateral corresponding sealing strips fixed curvilinearly upon their height to the uprights of said frame, following the curvature of these glass sheets.

In order to adjust the sealing strips exactly in contact with the corresponding curved glass sheet when in a closed position, all around the passageway, taking into account the tolerances of the glass sheet, these sealing strips are fixed adjustably to the uprights and to the horizontal members of the passageway frame.

The continuity of contact between the sealing strips and the same uniform and smooth surface of the glass sheets all around the passageway frame avoid advantageously the difiiculty of ensuring tightness in the corners where a break of continuity of the sealing means generally occurs as is the case in the prior art.

In the case of a sole external glass sheet, the latter is mechanically connected to the passageway frame with appropriate connections which cooperates with at least one upright of said frame in order to curve said sheet in the closed position.

In the case of two glass sheets, external and internal, these are mechanically connected together through a means for bringing them closer and bending them in the closed position. For maintenance and cleaning purpose, both glass sheets are advantageously mechanically connected together in a removable manner.

The external or internal glass sheet may be treated for safety. To this end it may be tempered or constituted by two glass plates bounded together.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other details and particularities of the invention will ap pear in the course of the description of the drawings attached to the present specification which represent schematically and as illustration only, one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of a sliding door according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section of the sliding door, taken along the line II- II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a detailed horizontal section of the very door, taken along the line III-III of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show in elevation, the positions of the straight and curved glass sheets in relationship with the insulating strips of the uprights of the fixed frame of the door.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a horizontal section of these same positions of the glass sheets and the means for bringing them relatively together.

In these different figures, the same references relate to identical elements.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED- EMBODIMENT The sliding door represented comprises a fixed part 1, the framework of which is constituted by a casing 2, a part of which forming a fixed frame 3 surrounding a passageway.

The casing 2 serves as support for an upper glazing 4 and for a lower opaque panel 5.

The sliding door also comprises a movable part that is constituted by an external glass sheet 6 and an internal sheet 7.

The horizontal sliding motion of each of the glass sheets 6 and 7 is effected between two extreme positions: an open position in which the glass sheet 6 or 7 stands in front of the fixed part 1 and a closing position in which said glass sheet 6 or 7 stands in front of the passageway and its frame 3.

The glass sheets 6 and 7 are suspended on the upper horizontal member 8 of the casing 2 of the frame 3, by hooks 9, provided with appropriated runners 10 through the agency of which they rest on a horizontal supporting rail 11. Each runner 10 is made of a synthetic material such as polytetrafiuoroethylene, presenting a low friction coefficient with the rail 11. Runners 10 may be replaced by rollers.

Each rail 11 is a Z-shaped piece the outside part of which forms a flashing-board. One of the flanges of said shaped piece is secured by screws 12 to the upper horizontal member 8. On the other hand, the web and the other flange of said shaped piece define, together with the horizontal member 8, an upper horizontal rectilinear groove or channel 13, wherein the upper edge of the glass sheet 6 or 7 is constantly engaged.

The lower edge of the glass sheet 6 or 7 is also engaged in a lower rectilinear channel 14 that is formed by a shaped piece 15 fixed by screws 16 to the lower horizontal member 17 of the frame 3 and of the casing 2.

Strips 18 and 19 having a low friction coeflicient are respectively fixed to the shaped pieces 11 and 15 in order to facilitate the sliding of the glass sheet.

Thus, each glass sheet 6 or 7 is guided by its upper edge in the upper channel 13 and by its lower edge in the lower channel 14, with a clearance at least equal to the maximum thickness of the glass, taking the production tolerances of said sheet into account.

Sealing strips 20 and 21 are fixed to the horizontal members 8 and 17 and to the uprights 22 and 23 of frame 3 by means of Z-shaped pieces 24.

In order to allow the curving of the lateral parts of the sealing strips 20 and 21 and the adjustment of the position of said strips all along their length exactly in contact with the glass sheets 6 and 7, the shaped pieces 24 have slots 25 that are passed through by fixing screws 26.

In the closing position, the external glass sheet 6 and the internal one 7 are respectively positioned in front of the external and internal continuous sealing strips 20 and 21.

Starting from their closing position, the glass sheets 6 and 7 can be brought nearer to the sealing strips 20 and 21 respectively till they are in unbroken contact with the latter when in closed position. The sealing strips may be brought close to the glass sheets and the sealing strips and the glass sheets may be brought mutually close together.

In the described embodiment, a pressure is exerted halfway up the glass sheet 6 or 7 and directed towards the opposed glass sheet in order that the upper and lower parts of said glass sheet 6 or 7 come first to bear on the corre- 4 sponding parts of the sealing strips 20 and 21 as indicated in FIG. 4, and that the lateral parts of said glass sheet 6 or 7 come thereafter in contact with the incurvated lateral parts of said sealing strip 20 or 21 as illustrated in FIG. 5. Thus, in the closed position, the glass sheets 6 and 7 stand respectively against the sealing strips 20 and 21 all around the periphery of said glass sheets, which ensures an efiicacious tightness of the closed door.

In the embodiment disclosed, the means for bringing the glass sheets 6 and 7 relatively closer is actuated by the latch 27, the shank 28 of which is received in a blind bore of a sleeve 29 and passes through another sleeve 30, these sleeves 29 and 30 being mounted on the glass sheets 6 and 7 respectively. These sleeves 29 and 30 present helical grooves 31 and 32 having opposed threads and in which pins 33 and 34 integral with the shank 28, are respectively received, in such a way that any rotation of the shank 28 through the agency of latch 27 actuated by handle 35, causes a relative closening or spacing apart of the sleeves 29 and 30.

The sleeve 30 is fixed on the internal glass sheet 7. To this effect, said sleeve passes through a circular opening in sheet 7 and is engaged threadedly in a tapped hole of an internal piece 36 which extends horizontally along said glass sheet till a location situated substantially at its geometrical centre, where the inner piece 36 is fixed to the glass sheet 7 by means of a strengthening plate 37 and a screw 38.

The sleeve 29 is fixed on the external glass sheet 6 through the agency of an intermediate coaxial piece which passes through said glass sheet 6 and is screwed within a blind threaded bore of an external piece 40. The external piece 40 extends horizontally along the glass sheet 6 till a location situated substantially at its geometrical centre where it is fixed to said glass sheet 6 by means of a strengthening plate 41 and a screw 42.

The sleeve 29 is movably connected to the intermediate piece 39. To this effect, said sleeve 29 presents a horizontal diametral rib 43 which is received into a corresponding horizontal groove 41 that is provided in the intermediate coaxial piece 39 and is retained therein by means of a vertical pin 45 that passes through said intermediate piece 39 and said rob 43 of the sleeve 29. The withdrawal of pin 45 thus allows disconnection of sleeve 29 which is connected to the internal glass sheet 7 through shank 28 of handle 27, and intermediate piece 39 which is fixed to the external glass sheet 6, which allows sliding of both glass sheets 6 and 7 independently, for cleaning purposes.

The external and internal piece 40 and 36 protrude symmetrically across lateral edges of the glass sheets 6 and 7 on both sides of upright 22 and may thus respectively lever against blocks 46 and 47 fixed by screws to said upright 22 and thus transmit their eifort upon the glass sheets 6 and 7, substantially at the geometrical centres of the latter. Furthermore, the blocks 46 and 47 are provided with ledges 48 and 49 respectively which, in closed position, are engaged in the grooves 50 and 51 respectively of the pieces 40 and 36, and results in looking them in that closed position.

The means for closening the glass sheets 6 and '7 towards each other as described hereabove is only an example. Numerous modifications having the same effect of closening and bending of these sheets may thus be imagined.

The embodiment considered comprises two glass sheets. Other embodiments may comprise a sole external glass sheet which is movable as described hereabove. In such a case, the closening and bending of the external glass sheet are realized under the action of a closening means, the function of which is similar to that of the described example. That closening means may engage the upright 22, or both uprights 22 and 23 of frame 3, in order to ensure the closening and bending of the glass sheet.

In the present specification, the external glass sheet 6 or internal 7 may be provided all along its edges with a protection strip or shaped piece able to avoid amongst others its crumbling upon split, inasmuch as said strip or shaped piece do present, all along its periphery, one smooth and uniform surface which may be compared with that of the glass sheet in order to obtain the same unbroken contact with the sealing strip.

The above description relates to a sliding door, but the novel characteristics of the latter are applicable to a window of the same type.

While the above disclosure sets forth the best mode contemplated, it is clear that numerous modifications can be accomplished and accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be measured solely from the following claims in which I claim:

1. A sliding glass panel apparatus comprising, a frame; means on the frame for supporting and guiding at least one glass panel in a rectilinear movement between an open and a closed position;

means for sealing the glass panel to the frame including at least one sealing strip extending in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the rectilinear movement of the glass panel and bowed relative to a plane containing the rectilinear movement, and means for closing and bending the glass panel relative to the frame, the glass panel being bent during closing to a bowed configuration similar to the sealing strip and sealingly engaging the sealing strip.

2. A sliding glass panel apparatus as in claim 1, where two glass panels are mounted on the frame and moved in concerted rectilinear movement between an open and a closed position, the means for sealing includes two bowed sealing strips and the means for closing and bending includes a handle and a cam means operatively connected to the handle for exerting a bending force for bowing the two glass panels inwardly towards each other and into sealing engagement respectively with each bowed sealing strip.

3. A sliding glass panel comprising a frame having an opening;

a fixed panel mounted in a portion of said frame;

sealing strips mounted on said frame and extending outwardly all around said opening in said frame;

a movable sashless glass pane sliding horizontally alongside said frame, said pane sliding externally of and spaced apart from said frame between an open position in which said glass paneis facing said fixed panel and a closed position in which it is facing said opening; and,

means for moving said glass pane in a direction transversal to the horizontal movement in said closed position into continuous sealing contact with said sealing strips and for similar movement in the opposite direction for releasing said glass pane from said sealing strip to move said glass pane to said open position.

4. A sliding glass panel as in claim 3, where said means for moving said glass pane is located approximately at the vertical mid point of said frame and exerts force that initially moves said glass pane into a tight contact with the horizontal sealing strips at the top and bottom of said frame and subsequently bends said glass pane into a curvilinear configuration that sealingly contacts the vertical sealing strips on said frame.

'5. A sliding glass panel as in claim 4, where said vertical sealing strips are of a curved configuration as mounted on said frame.

6. A sliding glass panel as in claim 5, where the curved sealing strips are adjustably mounted on said frame.

7. A sliding glass panel as in claim 5, where the neams for moving said glass pane includes a handle, a shaft mounted to the handle and camming means.

8. A sliding glass panel as in claim 7, where lock means are provided on said frame for securing said glass pane as it seals against said vertical sealing strips.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 860,912 7/1907 Graham 49-316 X 1,247,924 11/1917 Bloom 292-240 X 1,784,551 12/1930 Smith 292-240 X 1,973,210 9/1934 Hufnail et a1 49-482 X 2,197,824 4/1940 Young 49-485 X 2,326,856 8/1943 Heaney 49-34 2,741,807 4/ 1956 Powers 292-240 UX 3,114,943 12/ 1963 Casebolt -90 X 3,267,612 8/1966 Horvat et a1. 49-316 3,425,163 2/ 1969 Horgan, Jr. 49-413 X 3,468,064 9/ 1969 Fraleigh et al. 49-413 FOREIGN PATENTS 652,345 4/1951 Great Britain 160-197 DAVID J. WILLIIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner P. C. KANNAN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

